By Nworisa Michael
The Federal Government has directed electricity distribution companies (DisCos) and their installers to stop charging consumers for meter installation, warning that any official or contractor found extorting customers will be prosecuted.
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, issued the directive on Thursday during an inspection of newly imported smart meters at the APM Terminals, Apapa Port, Lagos.
According to the minister, the meters were procured under the World Bank funded Distribution Sector Recovery Programme (DISREP) and must be installed free of charge for electricity consumers nationwide.
Adelabu stressed that demanding payment for meter installation constitutes a criminal offence, noting that both DisCo officials and third-party installers would be held accountable if found violating the directive.
He disclosed that the Federal Government is supporting the importation of about 3.4 million meters in two phases, with close to one million meters already received and about 150,000 installed across the country. The latest shipment includes an additional 500,000 smart meters, which are expected to further reduce the national metering gap.
The minister expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of metering but said the government is determined to ensure that every household, business, and institution is eventually metered to promote transparent billing and improve liquidity in the power sector.
He added that monitoring mechanisms, complaint desks, and collaboration with regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and state electricity regulators have been put in place to track installations and respond to reports of extortion.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ayo Gbeleyi, said the bureau is coordinating the implementation of DISREP and monitoring DisCos to ensure compliance with metering guidelines.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Mojec International, Mojisola Abdul, confirmed that nearly 150,000 meters have already been installed free of charge, assuring Nigerians that no payment is required at any stage of the process.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to closing Nigeria’s metering gap, noting that over five million electricity customers are currently under estimated billing.